Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-10-19
Wednesday, oct. 10, 1887.
Alpena.
From the Detroit Free Press


Bay river, it is the county seat of AL
pena county. The city is rapidly
growing and is the most important
town on the whole coast of Lake HUI
ron, north of Bay City. The Detroit
Bay City & Alpena Railroad was COM
pleted in the fall of 1886 and adds
very materially to the prosperity OF
the place. It's chief business is the
manufacture of pine lumber and FISH
ing. The city contains eleven large
lumber mills, besides several single
mills, which together cut annually
more than 100000 feet of logs.
About 500 men are employed in the
fisheries, which. are quite extensive
and an average of ten tons are ship
ped each day during the fishing seas
on, which lasts the greater part of the
year. The river affords unsurpassed
water power, which is utilized at pres
ent by only one mill, but which is an
important factor in the commercial
prosperity of Alpena. Several large
mills to be constructed on the river at
an early date are contemplated.
There are in this city eight church
organizations all of which own hand
some edifices-Methodist, Presbyteri-
an, Baptist, Congregational, Epis-
copal, Catholic, Norwegian, Lutheran
and German Lutheran. The congre-
cations are all in a fourishing condi-
ton. The educational facilities Of the
city are unsurpassed. There are s
public school buildings, with twenty
six teachers and an enrolment of l.
1856 scholars. A large parochial
school is included. The public libra
ry is one of the most valuable in the
State, numbering more than 1000
volumes. There are four newspapers
in the city, one monthly and three
weeklies, the Pioneer, ARGUS and La
Dor Journal. There are two banks, one
of which is national. The principal
business blocks are of brick and are
for the most part large and imposing.
The public buildings number some of
the handsomest in the State and are
credit to any city, even of more pre-
tensions. Prominent among the many
handsome edifices are the new Court
House, splendid structure, costing
to build $4,000, and the Opera House
one of the handsomest in Michigan.
The principal hotels are the Central,
Sherman, Alpena House, Golling
House, Globe, Union and American.
These are all large buildings and are
each fitted with all modern improve
ments. The city is abundantly sup
piled with pure water by the Holly
system Of water works, put in at a
cost of $4,000 A well regulated
Fire Department is also numbered
among the city's improvements. An
extensive government fish hatchery is
also located here. An excellent and
safe harbor is furnished by the bay,
which is filled with steamers during
the entire year, twenty-five or more
passengers leaving each week. The
land directly contiguous is sandy and
light, but the soil in general is a rich
loan perfectly adapted to the produc-
ton of every kind of cereal, ETC.,
adapted to the climate, in the great
est abundance. Every kind of cereal,
corn, wheat, oats, rye, bar
ley, millet, is raised in almost unlim-
tied quantities by the farmers in this
vicinity, all Of which find a ready
sale at profitable prices with the buy
ers of Alpena and is shipped to all
parts Of the country. Within only a
few miles of the city splendid hard :
wood timber and farming lands are to
be had in any quantities. Improved
'arming land is readily obtained at
rom SIS to $50 per acre, and wild
and can be bought in tracts of any
lie for 81 and even less per acre.
Alpena was incorporated as a city in
81, and has steadily grown in popu- {
alton until now the population of {
he city numbers more than 10000 :
ouls, and is the metropolis of the I
Iorth shore. It's mercantile advant- (;
ges are unsurpassed, possessing the G
dvantage of a splendid harbor and 1
ending communication by water as
7ell as by rail with all the great
,arts of the world. The products of
northern Michigan must necessarily o
ass through Alpena on their way to a
he places of consumption, rendering a
his an important point of distribution t
nd giving her an undisputed advant- u
ge over her rivals. The city is en- 9
lively and full of business. e
{ is lighted by electricity, has sys-
EN- of telephones and, in short, all
he modern conveniences and appurt.
noes of any of our large cities. The o
interests of the city v
ave just been enlarged by the cree p
on of a mammoth wood pulp mill at
cost of 100000. for the manufact- h
re of wood pulp from pine slabs. f